BMW 330i 2005 Review

Until the new M3 arrives, at least the 330i is king – but, as with most monarchs, there are regal qualities and there are quirks and foibles.

The styling direction of BMW has polarised opinion, with the 3 Series being the least radical (no one wants to put sales at risk) but it still has its detractors.

The 330i nose and flanks are unmistakably BMW, providing a striking look, but the tail fails to live up to the handsome front end. Unkind comparisons to small "budget" sedans from the rear have been made.

But, without doubt, the highlight of the 330i is its powerplant – a sophisticated six-cylinder engine that bears all the Beemer hallmarks.

It's smooth, powerful and quiet, but sounds sensational when provoked.

Variable valve systems and intelligent intake manifolds give the 24-valve three-litre straight-six a broad spread of urge.

The engine produces 190kW of power at 6600rpm and has 300Nm of torque available between 2500rpm and 4000rpm. The six-speed automatic transmission works with the engine to provide an easy gait, making the most of low-end torque so progress is unfussed.

Flick the gearshift lever to the left and the markedly more aggressive gearshift program holds gears for longer, allowing the engine to sing – but the tune from the engine is well insulated from the cabin.

The gearbox allows for manual changes but won't tolerate any encounters with the rev limiter or allow the engine to lug at low revs.

There's no spare in the 3 Series, relying instead on run-flat tyres with a solid hoop within to get you home, but the drawback of such clever rubber is rough, noisy on-road behaviour. The grip seems to be more than adequate, working well with the suspension to corner superbly, although small-rut ride quality from the tyres is not a strength.

Body roll is only obvious when pushing the car hard, when the run-flat tyres will also start to complain a little, but rapid progress on winding back roads is largely unfussed.

The suspension tune is biased towards handling, leaving the ride firmly damped but not too harsh.

A sports suspension package is also available. The 330i's stopping abilities are more than a match for its acceleration, almost standing the small sedan on its nose in a simulated panic stop.

There's no shortage of electronic assistance in an emergency – anti-lock brakes with emergency assist, corner and dynamic brake control, traction and stability control.

All of which can be switched off should the driver choose to rely on skills alone.

But in adverse conditions, the safety systems provide ample backup, with front, side and side-curtain airbags ready to deploy should all else fail.

The test car had been optioned up, with the active cruise control ($2900) controlled by a steering-column stalk.

The car uses a radar to maintain a driver-adjustable gap to the car in front, changing down and braking to maintain a safe distance.

The system also allows the driver to set the speed on the dash – and the Beemer will hold its speed downhill, a welcome feature on the speed-camera-infested roads.

Night driving is good, with the adaptive xenon headlights swivelling to follow cornering lines.

The i-Drive information system is difficult to become quickly familiar with.

Some functions have returned to the dashboard, but the satnav and (optional) TV controls are among many functions that are within i-Drive.

Once au fait with the system's quirks, there's plenty to assist the driver, including the "perspective" view on the satnav. Parking Distance Control has the beeps and a coloured visual display to stop the driver putting any unwanted marks on the vehicle's extremities.

BMW offers active steering as an option on the top two models for $2700 but had chosen to fit other options – sunroof, TV/satnav with voice recognition and active cruise control as standard.

The merits of a variable-ratio steering system are many, including more direct steering at highway speed and easier parking, but the standard steering setup offers good assistance when required and plenty of bite and feel when cornering at speed.

SMALL TORQUE

BMW 330i

Price: $96,500 (excluding on-road costs); as tested $107,650 (sun roof $2750, satnav and voice recognition $3300, active cruise control $2900, metallic paint $1600)
Engine: In-line, three-litre, six-cylinder, DOHC 24 valves
Power: 190kW at 6600rpm
Torque: 300Nm between 2500 and 4000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Brakes: Ventilated 330mm discs (front). Ventilated 336mm discs (rear)
Steering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Fuel consumption: 9 litres/100km (combined city-highway). 11.5 litres/100km (test). Tank capacity 60 litres
Performance: 0-100km/h 6.6 seconds, top speed 250km/h